The 50-50 Policy: Not Taiwan’s Shackles, but America’s Anxiety

Introduction

In the increasingly securitized world of semiconductors and technology, the so-called “50-50 policy” — requiring that 50% of imported chips be produced domestically in the United States, with the other half sourced from abroad — is often cited as a potential constraint on Taiwan. Many instinctively interpret this as a weakening of Taiwan’s position. Yet when examined through the lens of supply chain dependence and strategic dynamics, the picture is quite different: the 50-50 framework looks less like Taiwan’s shackles, and more like America’s self-soothing line of defense.

This report unpacks the issue along three dimensions: dependence structure, strategic leverage, and policy backlash risks.

1. U.S. Dependence on Taiwan: Measuring Exposure Beyond Customs Data

The central question is not simply how many chips the U.S. imports from Taiwan, but how deeply U.S. chip supply chains are tied to Taiwan. Customs statistics alone understate this dependence because of third-country assembly and re-exports.

• A U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) working paper, “U.S. Exposure to the Taiwanese Semiconductor Industry”, used supply chain tracing to estimate true origins:• 44.2% of logic chips imported by the U.S. were originally manufactured in Taiwan.• For memory chips, the figure was 24.4%.(USITC report, 2023)

Because many chips first undergo assembly, testing, and packaging (ATP) in Southeast Asia before being shipped onward, customs data often credits countries like Malaysia or Vietnam as the “source.” USITC’s tracing exercise corrects for this distortion, underscoring how significant Taiwan’s role truly is.

In short: even with apparent diversification in U.S. import sources, Taiwan remains indispensable in high-end chip supply.

2. Strategic Leverage: Taiwan Is Needed, Not Shackled

Viewing 50-50 purely as a constraint misses the structural realities:

1. IrreplaceabilityTaiwan leads in advanced manufacturing, yield management, and ecosystem integration. Even with subsidies and policy pushes, the U.S. cannot easily replicate this environment in the short to medium term.

2. Negotiating FloorShould Washington insist on a 50-50 rule, Taiwan still retains bargaining tools such as limiting technology transfer or keeping the most advanced nodes (N) onshore while allowing only N-1 nodes abroad.

3. Cost and Efficiency GapTaiwan’s cost advantages — from talent to supply clustering — remain strong. Forcing local production in the U.S. may improve perceived “security,” but at the cost of efficiency and higher prices.

Thus, the 50-50 rule is not a straitjacket for Taiwan. It is a boundary condition that still leaves Taiwan with critical leverage. The greater burden lies with the U.S., which must spend heavily and bend its system to make local production viable.

3. Policy Backlash: When Overreach Hurts the U.S.

If the U.S. pushes too far with rigid production-share mandates, it risks undermining itself:

• Technological IsolationOverly restrictive localization could slow U.S. participation in global innovation flows, especially in equipment, materials, and downstream integration.

• Supply Chain FragilityBy concentrating on “domestic substitution” rather than robust interdependence, the U.S. may increase vulnerability to shocks, whether geopolitical or natural.

• Resource MisallocationMassive subsidies and tax incentives to prop up U.S.-based fabs could distort capital allocation, crowding out investment in other innovative areas.

In essence, a heavy-handed 50-50 could hurt U.S. competitiveness more than it protects it.

Conclusion: A Policy Born of Anxiety

For many, the 50-50 proposal feels like an external shackle on Taiwan. But the deeper reality is that it reflects American anxiety, not Taiwanese weakness.

• Washington seeks to reassure domestic politics and national security circles by drawing lines on supply chains.

• Yet Taiwan continues to hold major advantages in cost, efficiency, and technological leadership.

• Overreach by the U.S. risks producing the very vulnerabilities it hopes to avoid.

Put simply: the 50-50 policy is not Taiwan’s shackles — it is America’s anxiety.